We performed well in all three departments: Harmanpreet Kaur – Dainik Savera Times

Navi Mumbai: After India’s spectacular nine-wicket win over Australia in the first match of the T20 series at the DY Patil Stadium, captain Harmanpreet Kaur said that her team is excellent in all three departments of the game. With the help of fast bowler Titas Sadhu’s four wickets, India bowled out Australia for 141 runs despite Phoebe Litchfield’s top score of 49 runs. In reply, openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma scored half-centuries and made a partnership of 137 runs for the first wicket.

Though Smriti was out for 52, Shafali remained unbeaten on 64, leading India to a crucial win after a 3-0 ODI series defeat at the Wankhede Stadium. ‘We were on good performance in three departments. We are working hard on fielding, sometimes results don’t come, but it was good to see all the fielders working. “Credit to the fielding coach, he said Jamie (Jemima Rodrigues) will stand at point because we have given away a lot of runs there. Everyone knows where they will be. We gave her (Phoebe) a lot of chances in the ODIs, I just kept telling my bowlers, keep bowling in the right areas and Amanjot got her (out).

Talking about Titas’ performance, Harmanpreet said that he was included at the last minute at the behest of head coach Amol Majumdar. “It was a last-minute change, credit goes to our coach. At the last moment we thought it would be helpful if we could bring in an extra seamer, he did well. We know they are a good team. The way the bowling unit bowled, we would love to perform the same (in the future).

Smriti said that open conversation after the ODI series defeat was the driving force behind the opening T20 series win, while she praised the young Titas. ‘We were disappointed with the ODI performance. Really happy with the team, especially the bowling. It was amazing to get him out after giving away more than 300 runs in the last match. ”In the last two days, we analyzed a lot what went wrong. We certainly had a nice hour-long meeting. Our four-seam attack worked. Titas bowled really well after the Asian Games. Really happy for him. She comes from Bengal and Bengal has given us a great bowler in the form of Jhulu (Jhulan Goswami).

‘We should not compare, she is very settled, she says this is where I want to bowl and this is the ground for me. There’s that clarity in that. This is great, hope she continues like this. I remember during the meeting I told the coach (Amol Majumdar) not to be lenient with us and be as strict as he was on the Mumbai Ranji team. Australia captain Alyssa Healy felt her team needed to make quick adjustments and come up with a better strategy to bounce back in the second T20 match on Sunday. ‘not ideal. We really didn’t play very well. I think losing wickets early and throughout cost us dearly. Generally, some good partnerships will bring us success in the game.

“We want to keep moving forward and adapt to the circumstances. (On losing the toss): It would have been better to bowl first. He bowled really impeccable lengths early on and made it really difficult for us. We will have to adjust to this and change some things as per the strategy. We just have to adjust.”